The homebuilding industry thrives on consistent project management, efficient use of resources and clear communication. From the blueprint to final landscaping, homebuilding professionals coordinate multiple teams and manage an array of heavy machinery, trucks, vans and cars. Ensuring these vehicles stay fueled at the right time, with the right fuel and at a cost-effective rate can be a significant challenge.
Fuel rebates do more than reduce monthly expenses, they can help homebuilders remain competitive in a marketplace where material and labor costs fluctuate.
Many homebuilders have turned to fleet fuel cards to help manage one of their most significant expenditures. These powerful tools are designed to help businesses take control of fuel and maintenance expenses. While fleet cards serve many industries, they are of especially high value for homebuilders. From fuel rebates and maintenance discounts to streamlined expense tracking and mobile controls, fleet fuel cards can transform how homebuilders manage daily vehicle operations.
Overview of Fleet Fuel Card Features
Before diving into the details of fleet card benefits, it’s essential to understand the basics: What exactly is a fleet fuel card and why is it such a helpful resource for homebuilders?
A fuel card functions similarly to a credit card but is specifically used to purchase fuel and, in many cases, to pay for vehicle maintenance and related services. The primary idea behind these cards is to provide a more centralized, organized, and intelligent way for businesses to manage vehicle-related expenses. Homebuilders, who often have multiple vehicles on the road transporting materials, workers and equipment, can find immense value in this streamlined approach.
The majority of fleet fuel cards, including those provided by Shell, include the following features:
- Fuel rebates: Lower per-gallon costs through nationally recognized retailers – generally a rebate on every gallon purchased.
- Maintenance discounts: Special pricing and discounts on essential vehicle parts and services.
- Real-time data: Immediate access to purchase data offering insight into vehicle usage, fuel consumption and more.
- Purchase controls: Customizable spending limits and purchase restrictions.
- Automated expense tracking: A streamlined approach to managing fuel expenses.
- Mobile controls: Smartphone-based management tools, alerts and reporting.
The Benefits of Using a Fleet Card
Let’s dive into the benefits of each of the six fuel card features outlined above:
Fleet Cards and Fuel Rebates
One of the most attractive incentives for using fleet fuel cards is the potential for fuel rebates. Fuel is a substantial and persistent expense for any homebuilder managing numerous vehicles. Over time, even a small percentage of savings at the pump can lead to significant returns. Here are three things to consider when selecting a fuel card:
- Tiered rebates: Most fleet fuel card providers offer tiered rebate programs where you can earn higher rebates as your monthly fuel spending increases. This structure is particularly beneficial for homebuilders with larger fleets, allowing them to maximize cost efficiency as they scale.
- Nationwide network: Many fleet cards can be used at a wide variety of fuel stations. Shell’s Business Flex Card can be used at 95% of U.S. gas stations. This broad coverage is vital for homebuilders who might be working on sites located outside major urban areas.
- Flexible programs: Different providers offer multiple programs catering to different business needs.
Fuel rebates do more than reduce monthly expenses, they can help homebuilders remain competitive in a marketplace where material and labor costs fluctuate. By saving money on fuel, you can reinvest in upgraded equipment, better technology or more robust training programs—ultimately enhancing the quality of your builds.
By implementing a well-managed fleet fuel card program, homebuilders can focus on what truly matters: delivering high-quality homes on time and within budget.
Vehicle Maintenance Discounts
Beyond saving on fuel, many fleet fuel card programs offer discounts on vehicle maintenance — crucial for homebuilders operating trucks loaded with construction materials or vans carrying specialized tools. Frequent repairs, tune-ups and preventive maintenance are all part of managing a fleet of vehicles.
Key Advantages of Vehicle Maintenance Discounts
- Preventive maintenance: From oil changes to regular inspections, routine check-ups can extend the lifespan of your vehicles, reduce downtime and lower the risk of breakdowns on-site. Getting discounts on these services is a major perk. With Shell fleet cards, users can often get 15% to 20% off parts and services at participating Jiffy Lube locations.
- Streamlined billing: Fleet cards consolidate maintenance charges with fuel costs on the same statement. By putting fuel and maintenance expenses on one invoice, homebuilders can minimize paperwork and administrative hassles.
Keeping each vehicle well-maintained improves safety, reliability and preserves resale value. For many homebuilders, juggling equipment, materials and vehicles is a daily struggle—fleet fuel cards with maintenance discounts take one more operational worry off their plate.
Actionable Data from Fleet Fuel Card Transactions
Knowledge is power in any industry, and real-time data can be especially transformative for homebuilders. With fleet fuel cards, administrators can track vehicle usage and spending easily. This visibility can help identify fleet inefficiencies, spot patterns of overconsumption and inform scheduling or routing changes.
When a driver or employee purchases fuel, all the transaction details are recorded. This real-time data includes:
- Purchase data
- Purchase time
- Gas station brand
- Location
- Transaction amount
- Fuel volume
- Mileage
- Driver and vehicle ID
This data leads to real-time insights.
Examples of Real-time Insights from Fleet Card Reports
- Fuel spend reports: Online dashboards allow you to see where, when and how much fuel is being purchased.
- Mileage tracking: Monitor your fleet’s total mileage to help plan for preventive maintenance, warranty claims and cost forecasting.
- Driver behavior: Some systems allow you to tie telematics data to the fleet card account, giving you deeper insights into driver habits like idling, speeding and harsh braking.
This data-centric approach enables better decision-making. For example, if you notice certain vehicles or drivers are fueling more frequently than you’d expect for given routes, you can investigate further. Perhaps there’s an inefficient route that can be optimized, or maybe a vehicle has a mechanical issue causing reduced fuel efficiency.
Fuel Card Purchase Controls
Some businesses opt for fuel cards because of the level of control they provide. By setting specific limits and restrictions, homebuilders can ensure their employees purchase only what is necessary for the job.
How Purchase Controls Work
Each card can be programmed based on parameters a business owner or administrator sets. These limits are fully customizable and include:
- Spending limits: Administrators can assign a monthly or weekly spending limit per card, preventing unauthorized expenses.
- Volume limits: A card can also be programmed with max volume limits so purchases don’t exceed a specific number of gallons.
- Product restrictions: Decide whether the card can be used for fuel only or expanded to include essential maintenance items like wiper fluid or motor oil. You can also specify fuel type (diesel vs. gas) and grade (regular vs. premium).
- Time-based controls: Specify the days and hours a card can be used, eliminating the risk of off-hour purchases unrelated to work.
These limits help create an environment of accountability and transparency. Since each purchase is tracked and limited by predefined rules, employees remain focused on work-related expenses. This significantly reduces the likelihood of fraudulent purchases or accidental overspending.
Automated Fuel Expense Tracking
Collecting and recording fuel receipts from each job site is time-consuming and prone to human error. With a fleet fuel card, however, all purchases are automatically logged in a fleet card dashboard. This automation offers several benefits.
Key Advantages of Automated Tracking
- Eliminate paper receipts: Save time, reduce clutter and minimize the risk of lost or damaged receipts.
- Detailed expense categories: Most fleet card systems categorize expenses so you can see how much was spent and precisely what was purchased, when and where.
- Integration with accounting software: Many fleet fuel card dashboards integrate directly with popular accounting platforms. All fuel and maintenance costs can be automatically updated, saving time and eliminating errors.
Mobile Controls – Manage Your Fleet Card from Anywhere
The vast majority of fleet fuel cards offer mobile-friendly tools that let fleet managers and business owners oversee fuel spending from anywhere. This mobility is critical for homebuilders, who often divide their time between an office, job sites and vendor meetings.
Mobile App Capabilities
- Remote card management: Activate or deactivate cards easily, set purchase limits or grant emergency approvals even if you’re out in the field.
- Push notifications: Receive instant alerts if a driver exceeds spending limits, attempts an unapproved transaction or uses the card outside of authorized hours.
- Location tracking and mapping: Some mobile apps include a station locator, helping drivers find the nearest partner station to take advantage of rebates and discounts.
Mobile controls can also play a pivotal role in addressing urgent situations. For instance, if one of your trucks breaks down in a remote area, you can quickly enable maintenance purchases or increase the spending limit for that card—right from your smartphone. This level of flexibility helps keep projects on schedule and ensures your crews aren’t left idle on the side of the road.
Fleet Cards can Set Up Homebuilders for Success
For homebuilders looking to remain competitive, leveraging the advantages of a fleet fuel card is a strategic move. These cards generate immediate cost savings and contribute to a safer and more efficient operation, building a foundation of transparency and accountability within your team. By implementing a well-managed fleet fuel card program, homebuilders can focus on what truly matters: delivering high-quality homes on time and within budget.
Whether you’re a regional homebuilder managing a handful of vehicles or a national firm with fleets scattered across multiple states, the benefits of adopting a fleet fuel card are tangible and far-reaching. The right card program can help you harness fuel rebates, maintain vehicles at lower costs, gain unparalleled visibility into operational data and keep a tighter rein on expenses. Learn more at businessfleetsolutions.com.
Each card can be programmed based on parameters a business owner or administrator sets. These limits are fully customizable and include:
- Spending limits: Administrators can assign a monthly or weekly spending limit per card, preventing unauthorized expenses.
- Volume limits: A card can also be programmed with max volume limits so purchases don’t exceed a specific number of gallons.
- Product restrictions: Decide whether the card can be used for fuel only or expanded to include essential maintenance items like wiper fluid or motor oil. You can also specify fuel type (diesel vs. gas) and grade (regular vs. premium).
- Time-based controls: Specify the days and hours a card can be used, eliminating the risk of off-hour purchases unrelated to work.
These limits help create an environment of accountability and transparency. Since each purchase is tracked and limited by predefined rules, employees remain focused on work-related expenses. This significantly reduces the likelihood of fraudulent purchases or accidental overspending.
Automated Fuel Expense Tracking
Collecting and recording fuel receipts from each job site is time-consuming and prone to human error. With a fleet fuel card, however, all purchases are automatically logged in a fleet card dashboard. This automation offers several benefits.
Key Advantages of Automated Tracking
- Eliminate paper receipts: Save time, reduce clutter and minimize the risk of lost or damaged receipts.
- Detailed expense categories: Most fleet card systems categorize expenses so you can see how much was spent and precisely what was purchased, when and where.
- Integration with accounting software: Many fleet fuel card dashboards integrate directly with popular accounting platforms. All fuel and maintenance costs can be automatically updated, saving time and eliminating errors.
Mobile Controls – Manage Your Fleet Card from Anywhere
The vast majority of fleet fuel cards offer mobile-friendly tools that let fleet managers and business owners oversee fuel spending from anywhere. This mobility is critical for homebuilders, who often divide their time between an office, job sites and vendor meetings.
Mobile App Capabilities
- Remote card management: Activate or deactivate cards easily, set purchase limits or grant emergency approvals even if you’re out in the field.
- Push notifications: Receive instant alerts if a driver exceeds spending limits, attempts an unapproved transaction or uses the card outside of authorized hours.
- Location tracking and mapping: Some mobile apps include a station locator, helping drivers find the nearest partner station to take advantage of rebates and discounts.
Mobile controls can also play a pivotal role in addressing urgent situations. For instance, if one of your trucks breaks down in a remote area, you can quickly enable maintenance purchases or increase the spending limit for that card—right from your smartphone. This level of flexibility helps keep projects on schedule and ensures your crews aren’t left idle on the side of the road.
Fleet Cards can Set Up Homebuilders for Success
For homebuilders looking to remain competitive, leveraging the advantages of a fleet fuel card is a strategic move. These cards generate immediate cost savings and contribute to a safer and more efficient operation, building a foundation of transparency and accountability within your team. By implementing a well-managed fleet fuel card program, homebuilders can focus on what truly matters: delivering high-quality homes on time and within budget.
Whether you’re a regional homebuilder managing a handful of vehicles or a national firm with fleets scattered across multiple states, the benefits of adopting a fleet fuel card are tangible and far-reaching. The right card program can help you harness fuel rebates, maintain vehicles at lower costs, gain unparalleled visibility into operational data and keep a tighter rein on expenses. Learn more at businessfleetsolutions.com.